U.S. patent application number 15/351866 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-25 for continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of hexose-pentose.
The applicant listed for this patent is SK Innovation Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Min Su Koo.
Application Number | 20170145375 15/351866 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58720153 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170145375 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koo; Min Su |
May 25, 2017 |
Continuous Fermenter for Sequential Fermentation of
Hexose-Pentose
Abstract
Discloses is a continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation
of hexose and pentose which includes (a) a hexose fermenter
equipped with a saccharified solution supply unit containing
hexose, pentose and lignin, a plurality of trays closing at least
half of the diameter of the fermenter, impellers disposed on each
of the trays, an impeller driving unit, a lignin discharge unit
disposed at the bottom of the fermenter, a fermented solution
discharge unit, and a temperature control jacket; and (b) a pentose
fermenter equipped with a fermented solution supply unit for
supplying the fermented solution discharged from the hexose
fermenter, a plurality of trays closing at least half of the
diameter of the fermenter, impellers disposed on each of the trays,
an impeller driving unit, a lignin discharge unit disposed at the
bottom of the fermenter, a fermented solution discharge unit, and a
temperature control jacket.
Inventors: |
Koo; Min Su; (Daejeon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SK Innovation Co., Ltd. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
58720153 |
Appl. No.: |
15/351866 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12M 27/06 20130101;
C12M 23/04 20130101; C12M 41/22 20130101; C12M 41/18 20130101; C12M
43/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C12M 1/00 20060101
C12M001/00; C12M 1/02 20060101 C12M001/02; C12M 1/12 20060101
C12M001/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0162793 |
Claims
1. A continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of hexose and
pentose, comprising: (a) a hexose fermenter equipped with: (i) a
supply unit for a saccharified solution containing hexose, pentose
and lignin; (ii) a plurality of trays closing at least half of a
diameter of the hexose fermenter; (iii) impellers disposed on each
of the trays; (iv) an impeller driving unit; (v) a lignin discharge
unit disposed at a bottom of the hexose fermenter; and (vi) a
fermented solution discharge unit; and (vii) a temperature control
jacket; and (b) a pentose fermenter equipped with: (i) a fermented
solution supply unit for supplying a fermented solution discharged
from the hexose fermenter; (ii) a plurality of trays closing at
least half of a diameter of the pentose fermenter; (iii) impellers
disposed on each tray; (iv) an impeller driving unit; (v) a lignin
discharge unit disposed at a bottom of the pentose fermenter; (vi)
a fermented solution discharge unit; and (vii) a temperature
control jacket.
2. The continuous fermenter of claim 1, wherein the saccharified
solution containing hexose, pentose and lignin is supplied to a
bottom of the hexose fermenter.
3. The continuous fermenter of claim 1, wherein a fermented
solution discharged from the hexose fermenter is supplied to a top
of the pentose fermenter, and the fermented solution comprises a
product produced in the hexose fermenter, pentose and strains.
4. The continuous fermenter of claim 1, further comprising a unit
for supplying pentose to the fermented solution supply unit for
supplying a fermented solution discharged from the hexose
fermenter.
5. The continuous fermenter of claim 1, wherein the pentose is
produced by a monomerization reaction of pentose oligomer present
in a pretreated liquid.
6. The continuous fermenter of claim 1, further comprising a unit
for supplying a lignin discharged from the lignin discharge unit
disposed at the bottom of the hexose fermenter to a middle of the
pentose fermenter.
7. The continuous fermenter of claim 1, further comprising a unit
for separating a lignin discharged from the lignin discharge unit
disposed at the bottom of the pentose fermenter.
8. A method of preparing useful materials by sequential
fermentation of hexose and pentose using the continuous fermenter
according to claim 1.
9. The method of preparing useful materials of claim 8, wherein the
hexose is glucose and the pentose is xylose.
10. The method of preparing useful materials of claim 8, wherein
the useful material is ethanol.
11. The method of preparing useful materials of claim 8, wherein
the saccharified solution containing hexose, pentose and lignin is
supplied to a bottom of the hexose fermenter.
12. The method of preparing useful materials of claim 8, further
comprising a unit for supplying pentose to the fermented solution
supply unit for supplying a fermented solution discharged from the
hexose fermenter.
13. The method of preparing useful materials of claim 8, further
comprising a unit for supplying a lignin discharged from the lignin
discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the hexose fermenter to a
middle of the pentose fermenter.
14. The method of preparing useful materials of claim 8, further
comprising a unit for separating a lignin discharged from the
lignin discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the pentose
fermenter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2015-0162793 filed Nov. 19, 2015, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a continuous fermenter for
sequential fermentation of hexose and pentose, and particularly, a
continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of hexose and
pentose, characterized by including (a) a hexose fermenter equipped
with a saccharified solution supply unit containing hexose, pentose
and lignin, a plurality of trays closing at least half of the
diameter of the fermenter, impellers disposed on each of the trays,
an impeller driving unit, a lignin discharge unit disposed at the
bottom of the fermenter, a fermented solution discharge unit, and a
temperature control jacket; and (b) a pentose fermenter equipped
with a fermented solution supply unit for supplying the fermented
solution discharged from the hexose fermenter, a plurality of trays
closing at least half of the diameter of the fermenter, impellers
disposed on each of the trays, an impeller driving unit, a lignin
discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the fermenter, a fermented
solution discharge unit, and a temperature control jacket.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Biofuel is drawing attention as new alternative energy for
replacing fossil energy on which mankind is currently entirely
dependent. Further, there is a constantly increased demand for
development of bio-based products produced from reproducible
biomass.
[0004] At present, among biomass resources, bioethanol using sugar
cane or corn as a raw material is actively prepared in the United
States, Brazil, etc. This is because sugar cane or corn contains a
lot of sucrose or starch, and it is easy to prepare a sugar
solution therefrom and ferment it. However, sugar cane or corn is
originally food, and in the case of using them as a raw material,
there is a serious problem in that competition with food or feed
occurs to cause a rise of raw material price. Thus, a technique for
using non-edible biomass as a raw material is currently
developed.
[0005] The non-edible biomass includes lignocellulosic biomass, and
this may be utilized as an easily storable and transportable energy
source or heat source such as bioethanol and biobutanol which may
replace oil energy, and also its research value as a material for
producing alternative chemical raw materials of petroleum products
such as plastics is increasing. However, for economical mass
production of various biochemicals and biomaterials by microbial
fermentation from biomass, a technique capable of economical mass
production of fermented sugar such as hexose and pentose is
required.
[0006] Lignocellulosic biomass is composed of three main
constituents of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, of which
cellulose and hemicellulose are carbohydrates and may be converted
to high value-added products through microbial fermentation after
undergoing a saccharification process using an enzyme or acid.
Further, a process for producing chemical products, bioenergy, etc.
from lignocellulosic biomass may be divided into (i) pretreatment
for removing the constituents inhibiting the reaction of the enzyme
and microorganisms, and improving accessibility of the enzyme to
cellulose and hemicellulose, (ii) enzymatic saccharification of
converting cellulose and hemicellulose into fermentable saccharides
by enzymatic hydrolysis, and (iii) microbial fermentation of
converting the thus-produced sugars into a product using yeast,
bacteria, and the like.
[0007] In particular, in the case of using a batch fermenter in the
microbial fermentation, fermentation time is long, and thus,
several fermenters should be installed for implementing a
continuous operation, and due to the universal characteristic of
fermentation strains, pentose is consumed after hexose is consumed,
in which there is a difference in each fermentation condition.
Further, in the case of batch fermentation, residual lignin after
saccharification is also contained in the fermenter together, which
inhibits the contact of the strains with sugar to cause long
fermentation time and a high energy cost for agitation.
[0008] Korean Patent Publication No. 1261560 discloses a continuous
saccharification fermenter of a device for preparing fermentable
sugars, however, there is a difficulty in satisfying the
fermentation condition of each sugar since one saccharification
fermenter is used.
[0009] Thus, the present inventors exerts all possible efforts in
order to develop a fermentation system capable of minimizing
residual sugars after fermentation by differentiating the optimal
fermentation condition of strains, through separated fermentation
of hexose and pentose, and as a result, have developed a
fermentation system, in which a bottom-up hexose fermenter and a
top-down pentose fermenter are installed separately, and trays
closing at least half of the diameter of the fermenter are disposed
within each fermenter. As a result of supplying and fermenting a
lignin-containing saccharified solution using the fermentation
system, it was confirmed that the fermentation productivity was
improved, thereby completing the present disclosure.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0010] The present disclosure is directed to providing a continuous
fermenter for sequential fermentation of hexose and pentose having
an improved fermentation productivity, using a fermentation system
in which a hexose fermenter and a pentose fermenter are separately
installed, and trays closing at least half of the diameter of the
fermenter are disposed within each fermenter.
[0011] In addition, a method of preparing useful materials is
provided by sequential fermentation of hexose and pentose using the
continuous fermenter.
[0012] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of hexose and
pentose, comprising: (a) a hexose fermenter equipped with: (i) a
supply unit for a saccharified solution containing hexose, pentose
and lignin; (ii) a plurality of trays closing at least half of a
diameter of the hexose fermenter; (iii) impellers disposed on each
of the trays; (iv) an impeller driving unit; (v) a lignin discharge
unit disposed at a bottom of the hexose fermenter; and (vi) a
fermented solution discharge unit; and (vii) a temperature control
jacket; and (b) a pentose fermenter equipped with: (i) a fermented
solution supply unit for supplying a fermented solution discharged
from the hexose fermenter; (ii) a plurality of trays closing at
least half of a diameter of the pentose fermenter; (iii) impellers
disposed on each tray; (iv) an impeller driving unit; (v) a lignin
discharge unit disposed at a bottom of the pentose fermenter; (vi)
a fermented solution discharge unit; and (vii) a temperature
control jacket.
[0013] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
method of preparing useful materials by sequential fermentation of
hexose and pentose using the continuous fermenter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a continuous fermenter
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS
[0015] 100: Hexose fermenter [0016] 200: Pentose fermenter [0017]
300: Continuous fermenter [0018] 101: Saccharified solution supply
unit [0019] 201: Fermented solution supply unit [0020] 301:
Saccharification reactor [0021] 102: Fermented solution discharge
unit [0022] 202: Fermented solution discharge unit [0023] 302: Seed
fermenter [0024] 103: Strain supply unit [0025] 203: Lignin supply
unit [0026] 303: Lignin separator [0027] 104: Lignin discharge unit
[0028] 204: Lignin discharge unit [0029] 105: Impeller driving unit
[0030] 205: Impeller driving unit [0031] 106: Impellers [0032] 206:
Impellers [0033] 107: Trays [0034] 207: Trays [0035] 108: pH
adjusting agent supply unit [0036] 208: Pentose supply unit [0037]
109: Temperature control jacket [0038] 209: pH adjusting agent
supply unit [0039] 210: Temperature control jacket [0040] 305:
Temperature control materials
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0041] The present disclosure may be all achieved by the following
description. The following description should be understood as
describing preferred specific embodiments of the present
disclosure, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited
thereto. Further, the accompanying drawing is for better
understanding, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
Details on the individual elements may be understood properly by
the spirit detailed in the following related description.
[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a
person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
In general, the terminology used herein is well-known in the art
and commonly used.
[0043] In the case of using a batch fermenter in the microbial
fermentation, fermentation time is long, and thus, several
fermenters should be installed for implementing a continuous
operation, and due to the universal characteristic of fermentation
strains, pentose is consumed after hexose is consumed, in which
there is a difference in each fermentation condition. Further, in
the case of batch fermentation, residual lignin after
saccharification is also contained in the fermenter together, which
inhibits the contact of the strain with sugar to cause long
fermentation time and a high energy cost for agitation.
[0044] In the present disclosure, in order to develop a
fermentation system capable of minimizing residual sugars after
fermentation by differentiating the optimal fermentation condition
of strains, through separated fermentation of hexose and pentose, a
fermentation system in which a bottom-up hexose fermenter and a
top-down pentose fermenter are installed separately, and trays
closing at least half of the diameter of the fermenter, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, are disposed within each fermenter has been
developed. As a result of supplying and fermenting a
lignin-containing saccharified solution using the fermentation
system, it was confirmed that the fermentation productivity was
improved.
[0045] Therefore, as an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, a continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of
hexose and pentose, comprising: (a) a hexose fermenter equipped
with: (i) a supply unit for a saccharified solution containing
hexose, pentose and lignin; (ii) a plurality of trays closing at
least half of a diameter of the hexose fermenter; (iii) impellers
disposed on each of the trays; (iv) an impeller driving unit; (v) a
lignin discharge unit disposed at a bottom of the hexose fermenter;
and (vi) a fermented solution discharge unit; and (vii) a
temperature control jacket; and (b) a pentose fermenter equipped
with: (i) a fermented solution supply unit for supplying a
fermented solution discharged from the hexose fermenter; (ii) a
plurality of trays closing at least half of a diameter of the
pentose fermenter; (iii) impellers disposed on each tray; (iv) an
impeller driving unit; (v) a lignin discharge unit disposed at a
bottom of the pentose fermenter; (vi) a fermented solution
discharge unit; and (vii) a temperature control jacket, is
provided.
[0046] More specifically, in the present disclosure, it is
preferred that the saccharified solution containing hexose, pentose
and lignin is supplied to the bottom of the hexose fermenter, in
which lignin in the saccharified solution sinks to the bottom of
the fermenter so that it is present in a solid state only in the
lower tray, thereby improving the fermentation speed at the top of
the fermenter.
[0047] In the present disclosure, the hexose fermenter is a
bottom-up fermenter, in which a plurality trays closing at least
half of the diameter of the fermenter are installed alternately at
a regular distance, and it is preferred that the number of trays is
10-60, and the distance between the trays is 0.5-1 m, considering
the equipment height in the commercial plant is at most 20-30 m. It
is preferred that the length to diameter ratio (L/D) of the
fermenter is 2 or more, considering that the load of the driving
unit increases with the increase of the diameter of the impeller.
The reason why the tray occludes at least half of the diameter of
the fermenter is because the saccharified solution is prevented
from directly going up from bottom to top of the fermenter, thereby
increasing the contact time of the saccharified solution and
strains to shorten the fermentation time, and allowing unwanted
lignin for fermentation to be precipitated to be discharged to the
bottom through the opening of the trays by impellers. The distance
between the trays and the size of the trays may be designed
depending on the throughput, the contents of hexose and pentose in
the saccharified solution, and the fermentation speed of the
strains.
[0048] In the present disclosure, the impeller is disposed on the
tray installed within the hexose fermenter, and it is preferred
that the impeller is installed closely to the upper part of each
tray, so that the lignin precipitated on the upper part of the tray
is pushed to an empty space to fall down to the bottom of the
fermenter. The distance between the tray and the impeller being
1-10 mm is effective for removing the lignin. In addition, the
distribution degree of the strains may be controlled by adjusting
the speed by the impeller driving unit. In the case that the
rotational speed of the impeller by the impeller driving unit is
low, the proper contact of the saccharified solution and the
strains may be difficult, and in the case of being high, the lignin
may not be precipitated on the tray and move upwardly together with
the saccharified solution, thereby rather inhibiting the contact of
the saccharified solution and the strain. Thus, it is preferred to
operate the impellers at 5-60 rpm. The impeller rotational speed
may be determined by several factors such as the supply amount of
the saccharified solution and the content of the lignin. Besides, a
unit for further supplying a pH adjusting agent to the supply unit
of the saccharified solution discharged from the saccharification
reactor may be included, and the pH adjusting agent may be weak
acid/strong acid, or weak base/strong base. The reason why the pH
adjusting agent is added like this is because the pH conditions at
the time of saccharification and hexose fermentation are different
from each other. In addition, in order to maintain the optimal
activity of the fermentation strains, the temperature of the hexose
fermenter may be constantly maintained, which is performed by
installing a jacket. The temperature control materials supplied to
the jacket may be electric or steam or cooling water.
[0049] In the present disclosure, it is preferred that the
fermented solution discharged from the hexose fermenter is supplied
to the top of the pentose fermenter, and the fermented solution
contains the product from the hexose fermenter, pentose and
strains. In addition, a unit for further supplying pentose to the
supply unit of the fermented solution discharged from the hexose
fermenter may be included, and the pentose may be produced by a
monomerization reaction of pentose oligomer present in a pretreated
liquid, and for example, may be xylose, ribose or arabinose
produced from decomposition of the oligomer derived from
hemicellulose. Besides, a unit for further supplying a pH adjusting
agent to the supply unit of the fermented solution discharged from
the hexose fermenter may be included, and the pH adjusting agent
may be weak acid/strong acid, or weak base/strong base. The reason
why the pH adjusting agent is added like this is because the pH
conditions at the time of hexose fermentation and pentose
fermentation by strains may be different from each other, or when
there is a pH change by the hexose fermentation product, the pH
should be adjusted.
[0050] In addition, in order to maintain the optimal activity of
the fermented strains, the temperature of the pentose fermenter may
be constantly maintained, which is performed by installing a
jacket. The temperature control materials supplied to the jacket
may be electric or steam or cooling water.
[0051] In the present disclosure, the pentose fermenter is a
top-down fermenter, and the constitutions of the trays, impellers
and impeller driving unit within the fermenter are identical to
those of the hexose fermenter, but the number of the trays and
impellers to be installed may be varied with the size of the
fermenter.
[0052] In the present disclosure, it is preferred to further
include a unit for supplying the lignin discharged from the lignin
discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the hexose fermenter to
the middle of the pentose fermenter, and since the lignin
discharged to the bottom of the hexose fermenter contains sugars,
the sugars are supplied to the middle of the pentose fermenter to
be converted to a useful material as a whole, which may be carried
out by a lignin transfer pump.
[0053] In the present disclosure, it is preferred to further
include a unit for separating the lignin discharged from the lignin
discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the pentose fermenter.
Typically, a lignin separator which is commercially widely used may
be used.
[0054] In the present disclosure, in the case that the sizes of the
hexose fermenter and the pentose fermenter are differently designed
considering the fermentation speed thereof, fermentation efficiency
may be increased, and investment costs may be reduced. Besides, the
fermentation speed of the hexose fermenter may be controlled by
adjusting the supply speed of the saccharified solution supply unit
and the fermentation speed and the amount of the residual sugars of
the pentose fermenter may be controlled by adjusting the discharge
speed of the fermented solution discharge unit. Further, the
operation conditions such as the temperature and pH of the hexose
fermenter and the pentose fermenter may be controlled, thereby
improving fermentation performance, and increasing the fermentation
efficiency, and thus, shortening the fermentation time.
[0055] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the continuous fermenter
300 according to an exemplary embodiment, in which a saccharified
solution discharged from a saccharification reactor 301 is supplied
to a saccharified solution supply unit 101 at the bottom of a
hexose fermenter 100, and strains are supplied from a seed
fermenter 302 to the hexose fermenter by a strain supply unit 103.
Here, the saccharified solution supplied to the hexose fermenter
100 is supplied to the bottom of the fermenter, so that most of
lignin in a solid state sinks to the bottom of the fermenter. In
addition, impellers 106 are driven by an impeller driving unit 105,
and installed closely to the upper part of trays 107 so that the
lignin precipitated on the trays 107 installed at a regular
distance may fall down to the bottom of the fermenter. In order to
maintain the optimal operation condition of hexose fermentation, a
pH adjusting agent supply unit 108 and a jacket for adjusting
temperature 109 are installed. A fermentation product from the
hexose fermenter, and a fermented solution containing pentose and
strains are discharged from the hexose fermenter through a
discharge unit 102, and supplied to a fermented solution supply
unit 201 at the top of the pentose fermenter 200. To the fermented
solution supply unit, a pentose supply unit 208 or a pH adjusting
agent supply unit 209 may be added, if necessary. An impeller
driving unit 205, impellers 206, and trays 207 in the pentose
fermenter are configured identically to those in the hexose
fermenter, and the lignin discharged by a lignin discharge unit 104
at the bottom of the hexose fermenter is supplied to a lignin
supply unit 203 in the middle of the pentose fermenter by a lignin
pump 304 to ferment the sugars partially contained in the lignin. A
jacket 201 is installed in order to maintain the temperature of the
pentose fermenter constant. Finally, the fermentation product from
the hexose fermenter and the fermentation product from the pentose
fermenter are discharged by a fermented solution discharge unit
202, and the lignin discharged by a lignin discharge unit 204 at
the bottom of the pentose fermenter may be separated through a
lignin separator 303.
[0057] Another embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a
method of preparing useful materials by sequential fermentation of
hexose and pentose using the continuous fermenter.
[0058] More specifically, it is preferred that the hexose of the
present disclosure includes one or more sugars selected from the
group consisting of glucose, galactose and mannose, and the pentose
includes one or more sugars selected from the group consisting of
xylose, ribose and arabinose.
[0059] In the present disclosure, the useful material may be
ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, butadiene or a
mixture thereof, but not limited thereto.
[0060] In the present disclosure, it is preferred that the
saccharified solution containing hexose, pentose and lignin is
supplied to the bottom of the hexose fermenter, in which lignin in
the saccharified solution sinks to the bottom of the fermenter so
that it is present in a solid state only in the lower tray, thereby
improving the fermentation speed at the top of the fermenter.
[0061] In the present disclosure, it is preferred that the
fermented solution discharged from the hexose fermenter is supplied
to the top of the pentose fermenter, and the fermented solution
contains the product from the hexose fermenter, pentose and
strains. In addition, a unit for further supplying pentose to the
supply unit of the fermented solution discharged from the hexose
fermenter may be included, and the pentose may be produced by a
monomerization reaction of pentose oligomer present in a pretreated
liquid, and a unit for further supplying a pH adjusting agent to a
fermented solution supply unit for supplying the fermented solution
discharged from the hexose fermenter may be included.
[0062] In the present disclosure, it is preferred to further
include a unit for supplying the lignin discharged from the lignin
discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the hexose fermenter to
the middle of the pentose fermenter, and since the lignin
discharged to the bottom of the hexose fermenter contains sugars,
the sugars are supplied to the middle of the pentose fermenter to
be converted to a useful material as a whole, which may be carried
out by a lignin transfer pump.
[0063] In the present disclosure, it is preferred to further
include a unit for separating the lignin discharged from the lignin
discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the pentose fermenter.
[0064] In the present disclosure, `fermentation` is performed by
adding yeast, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, and all other
microorganisms capable of producing useful materials to the
fermenter, and the kind of the produced useful materials is
dependent on the kind of added specific microorganism at the time
of fermentation.
[0065] In the present disclosure, the strain producing the useful
material may include all microorganisms capable of producing useful
materials by fermenting a carbon source. For example, the
microorganism may be selected from the group consisting of a
Clostridium genus strain, a Pseudomonas genus strain, a Rhizopus
genus strain, An Aspergillus genus strain, a Corynebacterium genus
strain, an Actinobacillus genus strain, yeast, a Candida yeast, a
Pichia yeast, E. Coli, and lactic acid bacteria, and more
specifically, may include C. tyrobutyricum, C. butyricum, C.
acetobutyricum, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, P. fluorescens, R.
arrhizus, R. oryzae, A. oryzae, C. glutamicum and L. Acidophilus,
but not limited thereto.
[0066] In the present disclosure, the `useful materials` may be
amino acids, biopolymers, biofuels, biochemicals, specialty
chemicals, various enzymes, and the like, and are not limited
thereto, as long as they may be obtained from microorganism
fermentation.
[0067] Lignocellulosic biomass are, though the composition and
content of the chemical component forming wood are varied with
softwood and hardwood, and the species and age of trees, generally
mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and thus,
it is also commonly called lignocellulose, and since it contains
polysaccharide cellulose which is the main component of a woody or
herbaceous biomass cell wall, it is also called cellulosic
biomass.
[0068] Therefore, the `biomass` of the present disclosure may be
used interchangeably with cellulosic biomass, woody biomass,
lignocellulosic biomass, and lignum biomass.
[0069] The biomass according to the present disclosure may include
biomass derived from crops such as grains and starch containing
refined starch; for example, stem, bagasse and straw from rice,
wheat, rye, oats, barley, rapeseed and sugarcane; for example,
needle leaf trees of Pinussylvestris, Pinus radiate; for example,
broad leaf trees of Alix spp., Eucalyptus spp.; for example, tubers
such as beet and potato; for example, cereals of rice, wheat, rye,
oats, barley, rapeseed, sugarcane and corn, or the like.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0070] The continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of
hexose and pentose according to the present disclosure may minimize
residual sugars after fermentation by differentiating the optimal
condition of strains through separated fermentation of hexose and
pentose. In addition, lignin is separated before fermentation to
increase contact of strains and sugars, thereby shortening
fermentation time, through which productivity is improved, and the
size of the equipment may be small as compared with that having the
same capacity, thereby reducing investment costs. Further,
continuous operation is possible, and thus, an economic effect from
the reduction of the number of used equipment, and significant
reduction of the area occupied by the equipment as compared with
the conventional batch fermenter is very large.
[0071] The present disclosure has been described in detail in
specific parts, and it is obvious that such specific technique is
only a preferred exemplary embodiment to a person skilled in the
art, without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Thus,
the substantial scope of the present disclosure will be defined by
the appended claims and their equivalents.
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